John w



J. W. HURLEY.

LIQUID COOLER;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. 1915.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

TTNTT JOHN W. I-IURLEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

LIQUID-COOLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 19116.

Application filed April 22, 1915. Serial No. 23,089.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN V. HUnLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid-Coolers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to liquid coolers.

My invention, which is an improvement on the beer or liquid cooler set forth in my Patent No. 1,0a6f298, dated December 3, 1912, has for its object the provision of an improved and novel connector or looking device for securing together the inner coil shell and the outer casing of a liquid cooler.

The improved locking piece or connector which constitutes the present invention and improvements over my patent is adapted to quickly and easily secure the coil shell and easing together or permit their -apid disconnection without necessitating turning or manipulation of the inner coil shell. The connector is arranged at the bottom of the cooler and forms a direct connection between the lower parts of the coil shell and casing and is adapted for turning, to effect connection or disconnection, by the use of a suitable handle or turning device applied through the top of the coil shell. The connector is preferably carried by the coil shell and bodily removable therewith, thus obviating loss of the parts, simplifying the construction and aifording a powerful and yet easily operated connector which will insure the inner coil shell and outer casing being drawn tightly together and permitting them to be disconnected for purposes of flushing or cleansing.

My invention embodies a rotatably mounted turning member carried by the coil shell and a locking piece secured to the turning member and adapted to engage the footpiece of the casing and being preferably provided with a continuous screw-thread for that purpose. I am aware, however, that a continuous screw-thread is not essential nor that the looking or turning pieces be of the precise construction hereinafter set forth and shown in the accompanying drawings and I do not limit myself to the details of construction disclosed and lay claim to modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention.

My cooler is adapted for cooling any liquid such as water, soda water, beer, or any liquid or beverage whatsoever.

D In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 1s a yertical section showing the invention applied to a coil shell and easing; Fig. 2, a detail view of the turning member or piece; and Fig. 3, asimilar view of the locking member or piece.

The present invention relates solely to means for connecting and drawing together the mner coil shell and the outer casing of a liquid cooler of the general type set forth 1n my Patent No. 1,0-16,298, but it is not limited to the constructions of that patent and is adapted for use in connection with any coil shell and casing for the purpose of connecting them.

The outer casing is shown at 1 and the inner coil shell at 2, the latter having the exterior spiral channel 8 for the circulation of the liquid which may be let into said channel and taken off therefrom in any desired manner. The refrigerant, such as ice, may be contained within the hollow portion 4: of the shell 2 and around the casing 1. The cooler is supported by a foot-piece 5 having suitable legs 6 and the entire device may be located in any suitable box or con tainer. The casing 1 and foot-piece 5 are connected by any suitable fastenings such as screws 7. Bolts could be substituted for these screws. The fastenings constitute a detachable connection permitting the footpiece 5 to be removed whenever it is desired to do so. A suitable gasket 8 is interposed between the footpiece 5 and the casing 1. Either the bottom of the shell 2 or the top of the foot-piece 5 is provided with a gasket or packing 9. The interior of the casing 1 and the exterior of the shell 2 are tapered so that they will be drawn tightly together by the connector, thus preventing the fluid from leaking past from one channel 3 into the next channel.

The shell 2 has a rib or spider construction 10 at its bottom in which is a smooth opening 11. A turning member '12 is mounted to turn in the opening 11 and is supported by a flange or head 13, a washer 14 being interposed between the flange and the top of the spider 10 to prevent wear on the parts 10 and 13. The turning member or piece 12 has a flattened handle portion 15 by which said member or piece may be rotated by any suitable tool such as a turning key, which may be operated from the upper end of the cooler. I do not limit myself to the use of the part 15, nor to any detailed construction or means for turning the mem ber 12. The lower end 01 the member 12 is screw-threaded at 16 and has a transverse hole 17.

The'locking piece 18 has a transverse hole 19 and is internally screw-threaded at 20 to engage the screwthreaded portion 16. A

pin 21, passing through the holes 17 and 19,-

loclrs the turning member 12 and locking member 18 together that they cannot unscrew or separate. The pin 21 may be driven out to permit separation of these parts when necessary. A washer 22 surrounds the turning member 12 and is inter posed between the spider 10 and the upper end of the locking member 18, thus preventing any looseness or play vertically and taking up wear. The outer face of the locking member 18 has a screw-thread 23 which is preferably coarse and engaged with the internally threaded portion 24 which extends through the foot-piece 5.

I am aware that the thread 23 can be moditied and the threaded portion 24: correspondingly changed and I do not limit myself to the detailed construction shown at 23 and 24; as any inclined or cam connection between the parts 18 and 5 would serve the purpose. I have found, however, that a continuous coarse thread has practical utility in firmly drawing the shell 2 and easing 1 together and permitting quick and easy connection or disconnection of the parts.

The turning member 12 and locking member 18 are bodily carried by the coil shell 2 so that when the shell is removed, they move with it. This enables the casing 1 to be thoroughly flushed on removal of the shell 2 as the threaded opening 2% permits the flow of the flushing Water through th foot-piece 5. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a liquid cooler, the combination with inner and outer shells, one of which has a fluid circulating channel, the outer shell being provided with abottom and the inner shell having an internal portion or member, of a. single rotary connector permanently mounted in the internal portion or member of the inner shell and bodily carried by and removable with said inner shell, said connector having means to engage the bottom of the outer shell and arranged at its inner end in the interior of the inner shell in position to be turned by means inserted inside the inner shell.

2. In a liquid cooler, the combination with inner and outer shells, one of which has a fluid circulating channel, the outer shell being provided with a foot-piece or bottom having a screw-threaded opening, the inner shell being provided with an internal portion or bridging member, of a. turning member journaled in the internal portion or bridging member and having an upper flange or collar and a portion adapted for engagement by turning means and at its lower end provided with screw-threads, a locking member having external screw-threads engaging the screw-threaded opening in the foot-piece or bottom and having other screwthreads engaging those on the lower end of the turning member, a pin connecting the turning member and the locking member, and washers interposed between the flange or collar and the bridging member and between the locking member and the bridging member, said parts of the connector being bodily carried by the inner shell.

JOHN WV. HUBLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

